In an apparent attempt to resolve the recent altercations between the two parties, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), hosted Dangote and representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday for what the ministry described as a crucial meeting. Additionally present were the leaders of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), according to a statement issued by the minister's spokesperson, Amaka Okafor.
Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), hosted Dangote and representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday in what the ministry called a critical meeting. This appeared to be an attempt to resolve the recent altercations between the two parties. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) leadership were also present at the meeting, according to a statement issued by the minister's spokesperson, Amaka Okafor.
The House of Representatives has demanded that the Federal Government place Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, on leave while the investigations into the claims made against what it referred to as the CEO's "unguarded statement" are completed. During Tuesday's plenary, the House adopted a motion of urgent public importance regarding the need to address issues arising from Farouk's remarks regarding the country's local refineries. The motion was sponsored by Esosa Iyawe, the member representing Esosa Federal Constituency in Edo State. The legislator stated that engine hardware might be affected by fuel quality and reminded his colleagues that allegations of tampered fuel in the Nigerian market need to be looked into in detail.
He explained that because the excessive sulfur concentration in fuels damages engines and adds to air pollution, ultra-low sulfur diesel is advised for all kinds of power plants, storage tanks, industrial facilities, fleets, heavy equipment, and even ships.
He stated that nations all around the world have taken action to control sulfur because of the different threats it poses. These efforts have resulted in rules that demand a maximum decrease of sulfur emissions, to which diesel makers are obliged to comply. However, the Labour Party MP pointed out that, as agreed by the Economic Community of West African States, the NMDPRA allows regional refiners to manufacture diesel with a maximum sulfur concentration of 650 parts per million till January 2025. According to the head of the NMDPRA, which he mentioned, the diesel produced at the Dangote Refinery is not as good as diesel that is imported into the nation, and the fuel's sulfur concentration is high—between 650 and 1,200 parts per million.
